The Kosberg Open had been a summer event for years. But after Brad Anstadt's wife sent her husband and three friends on an all-expenses-paid 50th birthday trip to Florida in October 2005, the core group of Kosbergers had an idea: Why not take an annual fall trip, too?

This year 11 players attended the October gathering at Barton Creek in Austin, where the fall temperature hovers in the mid-60s and there are four courses (two Fazios, a Palmer and a Crenshaw). Most of the guys are 54 years old and don't bother with handicaps. "It used to be all about the golf," says Eddie Newmark, who plans the fall outing. "Now it's all about the stories."

Tournament historian Corey Schiff, the guy who sent Golf Digest the group's Austin itinerary, believes their bright red 25th Annual Kosberg Open shirts have special powers. In September, wearing his anniversary shirt, Newmark made a hole-in-one. Twenty days later, Jerry Kosberg made an ace wearing his anniversary shirt. Both were from 156 yards.

These guys are so used to talking during their backswings that when Anstadt skulled a shot, he blamed it on Schiff for not talking. Schiff apologized.

Stu Cohen is known for giving late-night "I love everybody" speeches, usually after a few drinks. Cohen got a speech from a waitress at Coyote Ugly after he declined to dance with her on the bar. She had to dance with the other female bartender, inspiring Larry Barnett to say, "Coming to Austin might be a recurring thing."

Larry Markin, previously known as Chardonnay Boy for ordering white wine, got a new nickname. Gary Rosenberg now calls him Bomb Boy, because Markin ordered a Jäger Bomb -- a Jägermeister and Red Bull combo.

Rosenberg's best friend is Ron Schaffel. "He stood as my best man in both of my weddings," says Schaffel. Rosenberg can't resist a poke at his portly buddy: "Go figure -- his first wife left him."

Marty Magida, whose love for the Cubs is unwavering (and who shows it by wearing the team's logo on practically every piece of clothing), has one complaint: Course rangers don't allow eightsomes. "We only do it if no one is on the course," he says.
One rule remains sacred at a Kosberg Open. About 15 years ago a guy nicknamed Dorky brought his wife. "That guy has never been invited back," says Doug Marbach. "This is kind of a guys' weekend."